What is the Festival of Emerging Artists?

Image from The Cat, directed by Amelia Burke in the 2020 Festival of Emerging Artists. 

The joyous, artist-led energy of the Festival of Emerging Artists takes over NIDA each year in December. Previously known as the Directors’ and Designers’ Graduating Productions, the Festival brings together the capstone projects of the Directing students, with each work selected by them independently, reflecting their individuality as artists and vision for the future.

Their unbounded creative ideas are then given the full support of the school. They partner with a production designer, usually a final-year Design for Performance student, and collaborate with creative leaders from every discipline at NIDA to bring their production to life.

The festive spirit of this season is also fueled by external collaborations. Many of NIDA’s recent Acting graduates take this opportunity to return and work with their NIDA peers and friends, and the Directing students also draw upon their extended networks to bring in writers, actors and other collaborators from the wider community.

After a year of honing their craft, creativity, and collaboration skills through live performance and multimedia projects, the Festival of Emerging Artists allows the Directing students to connect with contemporary audiences and express their unique directorial potential.

As Head of Directing Dr Benjamin Schostakowski expressed it, ‘These productions stand as a testament to the ambitious creative artists moving into a radically changing and evolving arts climate.’

In 2020, the Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, showcased eight live performances.

Anne Carson’s ANTIGONICK, a fresh and frenetic translation of Sophocles’ Antigone, was directed by Zoe Hollyoak with set and costume design by T.A Burg, lighting and video design by Morgan Moroney and sound design by Zac Saric:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, ANTIGONICK. Photographer: Patrick Boland

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, ANTIGONICK. Photographer: Patrick Boland

Liam McIlwain directed the posthumously discovered Tennessee Williams’ tragedy And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens…, with set and costume design by Liv Hutley, lighting design by Morgan Moroney and sound design by Fiona Harding:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens… Photographer: Patrick Boland

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens… Photographer: Patrick Boland

Lally Katz’s delightfully absurd romcom The Cat was directed by Amelia Burke with set and costume design by Iz Sperling, music composed by Ben Provest and Daniel Herten, lighting design by Morgan Moroney and sound design by Daniel Herten:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, The Cat. Photographer: Patrick Boland

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, The Cat. Photographer: Patrick Boland

Mark Bolotin wrote and directed Icarus, a strange and visually striking adaptation of the Greek myth with set and costume design by Ruru Zhu, lighting design by Thomas Bensley, sound design by Trillian Viera and video design by Cameron Smith:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, Icarus. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, Icarus. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

DRRRM Play, a punk-inspired response (revolt?) to Strindberg’s epic A Dream Play, was adapted by Jordyn Fulcher and directed by Matthew Latham, with set and costume design by Jordan Leah, lighting design by Thomas Bensley, sound design by Jessica Pizzinga and video design by Zoe Davis:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, DRRRM Play. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, DRRRM Play. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, Dracula. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, Dracula. Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams

And a Happy New Year…, a holiday season ghost story for 2020, was written by Writing for Performance student Sophie Davis and directed by Sophie Benassi, with set and costume design by Merette Boutros, lighting design by Jesse Greig, sound design by Mellita Vertigan and video design by Rose Mulcare:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, And a Happy New Year… Photographer: Phil Erbacher

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, And a Happy New Year… Photographer: Phil Erbacher

so/lo, a mesmeric memory play inspired by the parable The Judgment of King Solomon, was directed and devised by Ruby Rees with the ensemble, with set and costume design by guest artist Ella Butler, lighting design by Jesse Greig, sound design by Jordan Jeckells and video design by Rose Mulcare:

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, so/lo. Photographer: Phil Erbacher

Festival of Emerging Artists 2020, so/lo. Photographer: Phil Erbacher